That's the one! I even copied the pic from your ad so I'd have it as a reference later. I like the plain white look. I always thought solid white w/ the big red 'S' Suzuki logo on the tank would look sharp......even thought about painting mine solid white and putting a BMW roundel on the tank just to mess w/ my Beemer buddies.

I just found one much closer. Had to do the starter clutch fix, but it wasn't a big deal. $200 for the part from Jesse and an hour in the garage.

For now I"m just riding it. Maybe over what passes for winter here in South Alabama I'll work on some aesthetic improvements and firm up the noodly stock suspension.

Ah, the DR, if there was ever a bike to not piss and moan about, that's it. And, really, one tonot brag about in the same respect. After having a couple dirt bikes as a young man, then staying off 2 wheels for a loooong time (not because I wasn't interested), I re-entered the modasickle world some years back. Given my locale and needs, I wanted the most universal dual sport I could find that would fit the bill and be cheap. Researched it to death. June of 2007, it happened.

An '03 with 2500 miles I brought home for 3300 bucks. Passenger cost me much more.

Coulda rode it forever stock. Didn't. The clunky suspension I moderately improved with Eibach springs for a couple hunnerd bucks. The motor I woke up with a Gixxer can, airbox holes and properly set Dynojet system. Few hunnerd more.

Put some big bars on risers, Screensforbikes, handguards and other little accessories on. Sargent seat the day they came out. Recently went to Wolfman side racks (awesome quality) and Seahorses.

It's not great at anything except doing everything good enough. In that respect it's great. No the suspension will never be really good. It's not going to make 55 smooth horsepower. The wind blows it around on the highway.

But I've explored 15,000 miles of Montana, Idaho and Washington on it with no intention of slowing down. I have 4 bikes in the garage now and this is just the go-to. I never, ever question whether it will start and go. There are no mysteries or unsolveabe gremlins in the system.

Yeah I could have a cool, expensive bike with great suspension and cutting edge technology. But I'm not really interested in fishing through the toolbox for a multi angle u-joint torx head extendable Austrian special order driver bit to reach the third chamber under the gas tank to drain the last quarter liter of oil to do a 2 hour fluid change.

I take out one bolt and drain it with the DR. I'm 51 and don't have time nor patience for headaches.

Yep, it's an 80% bike compared to the cutting edge. 80% the horsepower, suspension, quality, comfort, technology (maybe 60% there), yadda yadda. But it works, I don't bitch, it doesn't strand me, and a clutch lever doesn't cost 24 bucks because of a German pedigree.

I don't bitch, I don't brag, I don't piss and moan, I just ride the damn thing and it works.

Just got back from an hour long back/dirt road mental health ride in Conecuh County.

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Will do...I'm overdue for a trip home and I need to bring something back from there so my plan is to ride the DR down and a U-Haul or my sister's truck back up. I usually pass near your area (Egreen, right?) coming down I-65. Will probably try to avoid the superslab if I'm on the bike tho!

Will do...I'm overdue for a trip home and I need to bring something back from there so my plan is to ride the DR down and a U-Haul or my sister's truck back up. I usually pass near your area (Egreen, right?) coming down I-65. Will probably try to avoid the superslab if I'm on the bike tho!

L

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Yep, I'm in Evergreen, and the ride down Hwy 31 is great. From Evergreen to the 164 exit just south of Montgomery, there is one stop sign and a couple of red lights. Not much traffic and nice views. It's a great ride and only adds about 10 minutes to the Montgomery ride.

Hwy 31 from Evergreen to Mobile is good too. Not much traffic and an easy ride through some nice country........

And presume to have intimate knowledge of my experiences so far with my bikes?

Some of you DR650 guys sure do take yourselves too seriously

Don't worry, the 610 thread has some too...we just get over it and continue on our merry way

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Welcome Bob.

You're a motorcycle guy and an ADV guy. I'll buy you a cold drink at the end of the ride and offer assistance if you need it.

And quite honestly, I couldn't care less what you ride as long as you like it.

.........and if you really think we are taking this thread too seriously, I invite you to go back and read the first post. I created this as the 'we don't take ourselves so seriously that we waste a week's worth of time publically griping and complaining thread'.

This is a public forum and all are welcome. Remember though, if you purposely poke the beehive, it pisses off the bees...........